A Veritable Tool for Successful Construction Project Procurements in Nigeria
FEATURED PAPER
Victor O. Ohamma, Obioma A. Anyanawu and Tobechi B. Ejekwu
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Owerri, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The study aims at evaluating the project management process and how it influences successful construction project procurement in Nigeria. To achieve five research objectives were set up centering on ascertaining the effect of effective estimation and tendering process on construction project delivery in Nigeria, identifying the estimation and tendering processes that integrates with the construction project delivery, determining the project management factors that affects the Construction Project estimation and tendering in Nigeria, and identifying the hindrances to the application of estimation and tendering process for successful construction project delivery. Also two hypotheses were formulated. The study is a descriptive study survey with population delimited to the workforce of construction contracting firms, namely Arab Contractors Imo State, Marcon Engineering Ltd Imo State and Gosh Projects Imo State; and construction consulting firms- Network Projects Imo State, Keliyke Imo State all in South Eastern part of Nigeria. A sample size of 200 was randomly selected, which was divided among the among the selected firms of study, and which cut across construction professionals such as Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Building Technologists, Civil/Structural Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Project Managers etc.. The research being a descriptive study involved the use of structured questionnaires delivered to the various respondents. Analytical tool used for the analysis was simple percentage for the category of demography of respondents, descriptive statistics for the evaluation of effects and linear regression analysis comprising F-test and ANOVA for the investigation of factors. In other to ensure error free computation, a statistical software package SPSS was employed. The study concludes that there is significant relationship between estimation and tendering process and construction project delivery; also the quality of estimation and tendering skills by procurement professionals influence the quality of project delivery in construction industry.
Keywords: Procurement, Project Management, Construction Project, Estimation, Tendering
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Across many decades, man has relied on procurement to acquire what he needs from others. His needs can be for a service, a product or both; this dependence does not leave behind, the inclusion of and synergy with construction projects. According to Muhammed et al (2015), The success of performance of construction projects in Nigeria is tied to the impact of procurement strategy or policy used in providing the building. Procurement policies significantly influence the success of construction projects since they are designed to provide solutions to specific project needs or conditions.
Project procurement strategy according to Building and Construction Procurement Guide (2014) is a key factor in optimising value-for-money outcomes from infrastructure investments. A comprehensive procurement strategy that demonstrates careful consideration and analysis of all available options will enable project owners to identify the delivery model and procurement method most suitable for the project in question. By using an appropriate delivery model and procurement method, project owners can expect to attain improved value-for-money outcomes as risks will be most effectively managed and the incidence of contractual disputes, cost and time overruns is likely to be reduced.
In other vein, there will be stiffness and lack of appropriate delivery model and method in procurement strategy, especially in construction projects, if there lacks project management process. There is a “lock-step” relationship between the project management process and the procurement process (Hairston, 2005). According to Hairston (2005) the integration of the Procurement Process and the Project management process provides the corporate and technical basis that works successfully for construction projects, capital acquisitions, plant start-ups and implementation of strategic procurement processes.
The very strong implication of project management in construction project procurement is as the result of the obvious from many research works that procurement in construction projects is more than being the process of obtaining goods and services from another for some consideration. According to Chikara (2012), the execution of modern construction projects requires speed and involves interrelationship of the voluminous interdependent activities. In addition, construction projects procurement has been acknowledged as the procurement of a complex system, which offers insights from the procurement of other types of complex systems (Hughes, 2012). Its complexity stems from an extensive process and diverse systems (Idoro, 2012; Hughes, 2012; Gollenbeck, 2008; Harris & McCaffer, 2005; Anyadike, 2000). This makes construction specific procurement more complex unlike other forms of general procurement (Ibrahim, 2008). Consequently the contemporary construction procurement goes beyond the traditional concept of just integration of design-bid-build procurement system (Mbamali & Okotie, 2012; Gollenbeck, 2008), to a more complex concept of management oriented systems, integrated systems or, discretionary contracts (Mathonsi & Thwala, 2012; Babatunde, et al., 2010; Harris & McCaffer, 2005). These complexities gave credence to necessity of project management and its process. Therefore to ensure a value-added contribution to a construction project, the procurement professional must first understand the definition of a project, project management, and learn how the Project Management Process of Initiation, Planning Execution, Control and Closeout fits into the procurement process.
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How to cite this paper: Anyanwu, O. A., Ohamma, V. O., Ejekwu, T. B. (2021). Effective Project Management: A Veritable Tool for Successful Construction Project Procurements in Nigeria; PM World Journal, Vol. X, Issue V, May. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pmwj105-May2021-Anyanwu-project-management-for-successful-construction-procurement.pdf
About the Authors
Obioma Anselam Anyanwu
Owerri, Nigeria
Obioma Anselam Anyanwu has a B. Sc. in Project management technology from Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo state, also bagged a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lagos State University Ojo, Lagos state. He is currently undertaking a Ph.D. program in the department of project management technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo state. Presently working with Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Laboratory UBURU EBONYI STATE, with National Space Research and Development Agency under Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. He can be reached at Obiomanpmt@yahoo.com
Victor O. Ohamma
Owerri, Nigeria
Victor O. Ohamma is a Probationer member of the Nigerian institute of Quantity Surveyors. He obtained his first degree in Quantity Surveying from the Imo State University Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria in 2009. He bagged Master’s Degree in Quantity Surveying from the same University with Upper credit. He is currently studying for PhD in Quantity Surveying with interest in achieving sustainable energy in Nigeria through photovoltaic (PV) technology; problems and prospects. He is an experienced Quantity Surveyor with industry footprint in many high profiled projects. Victor can be contacted at likemindz4good@yahoo.com
Tobechi B. Ejekwu
Owerri, Nigeria
Tobechi B. Ejekwu is a registered member of the Nigerian institute of Quantity Surveyors. He obtained his first degree in Quantity Surveying from the Imo State University Owerri, Imo State University, Nigeria with Second Class Upper Division. He bagged A Master’s Degree in Quantity Surveying from the same University with Upper credit. He is currently studying for a PhD in Quantity Surveying with interest in Life Cycle Costing of residential Buildings. He is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Quantity Surveying, Imo State, Owerri, Nigeria. He is an experienced Quantity Surveyor with industry footprint in many high profiled projects. Tobechi can be contacted at tobejekwu@gmail.com
